The city of Elsmere held a first reading of an ordinance Tuesday that would amend the current regulations concerning backyard chickens — with the help of local students.
The city council invited local middle and high school students to participate in the eighteenth annual student government meeting with Mayor Marty Lenhof, where students from sixth grade to eleventh could observe and perform a city government’s tasks and procedures at a typical meeting.
According to Lenhof, the evening marked the first student government meeting in the new Elsmere City Building at 3921 Dixie Highway. The meeting room was packed with the students’ family members in attendance. A dinner party with pizza, cake and soft drinks was served prior to the meeting.
The mayor, councilmembers, city administrators and department heads each introduced and were each represented by a student, who read reports and passed motions on their behalf.
The mayor, city council, administrators and department heads were represented by students from local middle and high schools. Photo by Mildred Nguyen.
The central item on the agenda was the first reading of an ordinance regulating backyard chickens in Elsmere, following the termination of the city’s urban chicken pilot program. The new regulations would allow Elsmere citizens to raise up to eight non-crowing chickens— an increase from the pilot’s allotment of six—excluding roosters and turkeys.
Citizens must apply to the city council for a permit and keep their chickens within fenced-in backyards. Non-compliance would result in a warning and a citation, followed by fines of $100, $200 and $500 for subsequent violations.
As the meeting concluded, the city presented each governing student with a certificate and a gift bag.
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